Calls For Talks Sound Empty

April 28, 2001|By ERIK ECKHOLM The New York Times

BEIJING — Eight years after they began a historic but ultimately aborted dialogue on future relations, mainland China and Taiwan both called on Friday for new talks. But the pleas appeared hollow, as neither side showed any sign of compromising on Beijing's core precondition: Taiwan's agreement that it remains part of "one China."

Taiwanese leaders, as they extended an invitation they knew China would reject, quietly reveled in the substantial new weapons package Washington has offered to sell and in President Bush's public promise to aid the island if it comes under attack.

Beijing continued on Friday with a drumbeat of harsh warnings -- to Taiwan for its refusal to embrace reunification, and to Washington for its arms offer and for President Bush's statement of more overt support for Taiwan in the event of an attack. Beijing called his comments another step on a "dangerous road," even as American officials said there had been no real change in policy.

On Friday it appeared that Chinese-American relations could be rattled still more, as officials in Washington were reported as saying that Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, may be allowed to meet with members of Congress during stopovers in the United States en route to Latin America.

China has sought to isolate Taiwan's government, which it regards as illegitimate, and especially Chen, who was elected last year and whose party has worked for Taiwan's independence from Beijing. Since Chiang Kai-shek's defeated Nationalists fled to the island in 1949, the two sides have been in more or less hostile states of limbo, with Beijing claiming full sovereignty over Taiwan and threatening to use force if it refuses to rejoin the motherland.

Bush has caused consternation here with his promises of stronger support for Taiwan. And, while he avoided selling the advanced Aegis radar the Taiwanese seek, his proffered $4 billion arms package includes diesel submarines, which previous American presidents had rejected as too provocative. The Chinese have responded with belligerent statements, though not any specific reprisals.